Another tip I have (not directly related to dealing with the Chargers): If you happen to cross the extract point while doing the main / secondary, it doesn’t hurt to drop supplies and other any support stratagems there beforehand. You can also drop all the samples gathered at that point, so they will be waiting for the extracting time. It never hurts to plan ahead, so we are usually planning the mission route that crossing the extraction point will happen.
Doing this has in my expetience increased the chances of getting out with the all important samples, especially when the mission time is running out and the Super Destroyer leaves.
I don’t agree with your points. The nerfs and the buffs were really needed, because what’s the point of having any other weapons or stratagems if 99% of the time players won’t be using them. The Shield Generator is still good. The Railgun is still good, even though you can’t one shot Bile Titans and deal easily with the Chargers. The Breaker is still good. But now they are more on the same level with the others.
Basing this in my experience with around 100 hrs in-mission time (I can’t check the exact time currently).
This is a good read as well: https://www.arrowheadgamestudios.com/2024/03/balancing-the-firepower-in-helldivers-2/
Happy Helldiving!